Signaling apparatus for vehicles



Oct. 9, 1928. F. A. E. GOODRQAD SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES FiledJune 7', 1928 3 sheets sheet gnve'ufoz E J15 5001 K046i Oct. 9, 1928.

F. A. GOODROAD SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune '7; 1928 h I gvwewfoz EJ156 0 01/0 acl Oct. 9, l928. 1,686,691

F. A. E. GOODROAD SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES Filed June '7, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

FRANK A. E. GOODROAD, OFCANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA srenamne. ABPARATUS, EonVEHICLES.

Application filed J'une 7, 1928. Serial No. 283,625;

This lnventlon relates to signallng apparatus for vehicles and moreparticularly to the construction of a semaphore type of signallng armfor use in this connection.

An important object of the invention is to a provide a semaphore armwhich maybe arranged exteriorly of the vehicle and operated from theinterior thereof, which is so constructed and arranged that it maysimulate the action of the driver of acar in indicating his intention tostop or to turn.

A further object of the invention isto provide a device of thischaracter which may be operated by the foot to indicate a stop, thuseliminating the necessity of theoperator removinga hand from thesteering wheel during what may be an emergency stopping operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter Whic when in non-signaling position, is housed, and protectedfrom the elements by a movable housing which, as the signal is moved toopers ative position, shifts to permit free movement 7 thereof. V g V VA further object of the invention is to provide operating connectionsfor the housing 7 and signal arm from a single operating means of suchcharacter that when thesignal is moved to operative position, the housng 1s moved to 1ts open position before any movement of the signal takesplace and the signal is then shifted and when the signal is returned tonon-signaling position, the signal first moves to suchposition and thenthe housing shifts to its closed position. Theseand other objects Iattain by theconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, whereinfor the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of myinvention-and wherein Figure 1 is an'inside elevation of a vehicle doorhaving signal mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention;Figure 2 is a plan'view thereof; V Figure 3 is an outside elevation,the, cover of the signal being broken away g c Figure 4 is sectionalview showing the inner face of the signal, the signal beingin itssignaling position;

'Figure. 5 is a. detail elevation partially section showing theoperating connections for the signal, the parts being in ;the positionwhich they occupy when the signal is isms position; 7

' Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a similar view with the parts shown in the lntermediateposition;

Flgure 7 1s a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 8 is a detail sectionalView showing the connections for oscil-latingthe hand section of thesignal arm; r V

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the connections for the signal.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the door or wall of a car adjacent the driversseat. For the purpose of description, this portion will hereinafter bereferred to as the wall 10. In accordance with my invention, upon theexteriorof this wall I provide vertically aligned bearings 11 receivingthe ends of a shaft 12 upon which, between the bearings, is mounted apanel 13 constructed to resemble the outer end o'fthe forearm.

1 I To the outer end of the panel 13 is pivoted a hand section 14, thepivot 15 being horizontally disposed, so that this hand section maybevertically oscillated. Springs 16 connected to opposite sides of theinner end of the hand section and to the panel 13 normally maintain thehand section in a central position where italigns withthe panel 13. To 4the hand section 14 at its inner end and at one side of the pivot 15 ispivoted one end of a link 17, the opposite end of which is connect-' edto the hooked outer end 18 of a secondlink 119. hen the'panel 13 and arm14 are moved about their pivots so that they extend at substantiallyright angles to the wall 10, the link 19 which extends through this wallat 20 substantially parallels the link '17, so that longi .tudinalmovement of the link 19 will result in longitudinal movement of the link17 and the hand section 14 is oscillated about its pivot15' against theaction of the spring 16.

The inner end of the link 19 is connected to an arm or crank 21 upon arock shaft 22,

which shaft is provided at its end with a han dle 23which is pivoted tothe shaft so that it may be'shifted either to a point "where it alignswith'the shaft and accordingly lies closely against the inner face ofthe wall 10 or to a point 'whereit extends outwardly from the shaftan-dmaybe employed to rock the shaft. To the inner end of the panel 13 atwhat isfthe outer *face thereof when in nonsignalingposition 18 secured.anarm 24, which. arm has formed Itherethrough a VGI'tlCtil slot eaaaunny bent intermediate its ends the cross head 26.

From an inspection of Figs. and 6, it

inner end of the slot or end more nearly adjacent the panel 13 being inthe form of a cove. The outer end of the slot, when the panel is innon-signaling position, extends substantially vertically to the wall 1O.Shittable in this slot is a cross head 26 which is secured to the outerend oi a connecting rod' necting rod 27 is drawn inwardly at this time,initial movement of this rod viil not result in any movement of thepanel 13.

vAlter a predetermined. movement, however,

the cross head engages in the cove at the inner end of the slot and fromthis time onward, inwardmovement of the connecting rod is accompanied byan oscillationcof' the panel until the panel finally arrives at positionperpendicular to the walllO. 1

' Supported from the wall and in the present instance directly supportedfrom the upper bearing ll-is a pivot element 30 paralleling the wall 10.,Upon this pivot element is 'mounted a lever 31 while to the outer faceof the wall at a point above the lever, 21 housing or shield 32 ispivoted upon a horizontal pivot substantially paralleling the upper edgeof the signal arm when in non-signaling position. This shield extendsoutwardly and then downwardly from its pivot and is oi sufiicient depthto completely cover the arm when closed thereover. The inner face of theshield is formed as a reflector and has secured thereto above the lever31 an car 33 which is connected to the end of the lever 31. by a link34. Likewise connected to the lever 31 is a link which is connected tothe upper end of the will be obvious that when this cover is in itslowered pos tion and the signal arm is in non-signaling position,theinitial portion of.

the stroke of the lever applies its force through the link 35 to causethe lever 31 to oscillate on its pivot and this oscillation. istransnntted through the link 34 to the cover causing the same toelevate.

I As previously pointed out, this initial movement of the bar 27 merelyca .ses the cross head to shift in the slot and'exercises no etiect onthe signal arm so that thissignal arm doesnot start to move until thecover reaches its raised position. When the cover reaches its raisedposition, the pivotal connections oi the link 35 with the lever31 and"the cross head are substantially vertically aligned so that the finalmovement of the cross head does notetl'ect any appreciable movement ofthe cover and this cover remains in its raised position. However, aspreviously pointed out, this final 'rnove tion assumed by the arm inresponse to movemerits of the crosshead is that indicating a stopposition. Intention. to turn in either direction may be indicated byemploying the rock shaft 22 and its connections to the hand section llto oscillate this hand section upon the panel 13 and raise or lower thesame. The turning signal indicated by inclination of the hand sectionwill be terminated immediately upon release of pressure applied torotate the rock shaft by springs 16 or more particularly that springwhich has been tensioned by the oscillation of the handsection. Thesignaling operation having heencomplot-ed, thecross head i's shiftedoutwardly and during itsinitial shifting movement, enercises no effectupon the cover, duet-o the approximate vertical alignment of the pivotsof the link 35, but causes oscillation of the signal arm to thenonsignaling'position. Thelatter part of the'movement of the cross headacts to shift the lever 31 through the link 35 and swing the coverdownwardly to cover the signal arm, r i

Any suitable means maybefemployed for shifting the cross head. In thepresentinstance, I have shown the inner end of the cross head rod 27 asconnected to an arm 36 upon a shai't37 l present shown as connected tothe link 41 and to the arm constantly urges the shaft to a position suchthat the cross head is at 1 its outer-position and the arm and its coverare in the non-signaling.position. The hand section 14 may be provided,with an electric signallamp 4:3 and the movement of the shaft 37el'nployed to operate a switch 44- controlling the circuit of this lamp.For the. pur' pose of illustration, I have shownthis switch as anordinary snap switch, the lever 45 oi which is connected by a link 4E6to'the second arm 39 of the shaft 37. The foot, lever 40 may beconveniently disposed so that itmaybe operated by the foot ofthe'operator ordi narily employed to shift the clutch of the vehicle.This foot lever may lay-closely against the wall. 10 and the handle 3801"- the shaft 37niay be so constructed that innonsignaling position, itliesclosely against the face of the wall. With this disposition of theseelements, the entire structure" may he i applied to a door of thevehicle without providing projecting mechanisms which will enof thevehicle when they leave the same.

danger the clothing or personsof occupants Since theconstructionemployedris obviously capable of a certain range of changesaid member and saidicover whereby the.

cover is shifted during movement of the member in the slot and isinoperative during pivotal movements of the semaphore arm, the semaphorearm being formed in two sections and means operative when the arm is insignaling position for oscillating one of said sections with respect tothe other thereof.

2. In a semaphore signal, a pivoted semaphore, a pivoted cover therefor,an arm upon the semaphore having a slot, a longitudinally movableoperating member for the semaphore having a portion engaged in saidslot, said member extending in the gen eral direction of the slot whenthe signal is in non-signaling position, a connection between saidmember and said cover whereby the cover is shifted 1 during movement ofthe member in the slot and is iiioperative during pivotal movements ofthe semaphore arm, the semaphore arm being formed in two sections, meansoperative when the arm is in signaling position for oscillating one ofsaid sections with respect to the other thereof, and spring meansnormally means whereby during movement of the op erating means to movethe signal from'nonsignaling to signaling position the cover is shiftedbefore operation of the signal and during movement of the operatingmeans to move the signal from signaling to non-signaling position thesignal is moved tononsignaling position before movement of the cover,said semaphore arm being formed in two sections, and means operable whenthe semaphore arm is in signaling position, for

causing oscillation of one of said sections,

with respect to the other thereof.

4. In a semaphore signal-for vehicles, a

semaphore arm movable'from signaling to non-signaling position, ashiftable' cover for the arm when 1n non-signaling position, an

operating member, a connection between the operating member and thesemaphore armwhereby upon operation of the operating member toshift thesemaphore arm to signaling position there is a primary move.

ment of the operating member unattended by movement of the signal,connections between the operating member and the cover whereby thevcoveris shifted to clear the semaphore arm during such primary movement ofthe operating member, said semaphore arm being formed in two sections,and means operable when the semaphore arm is in signaling position forcausing oscillation of one of sa d sections with respect to the otherthereof.

5. In a semaphore signal, a pivoted sema phore, a pivoted covertherefor, an arm upon the semaphore being a slot, a longitudinallymovable operating member for the semaphore having. a portion engaged insaid slot, sa d member extending-in the general direction of the slotwhen the signal is in non-signaling position, a con-' motion betweensaid" member and said cover whereby the cover is shifted during movementof the member in the slot and is inoperative during pivotal movements ofthe semaphore arm, said semaphore arm being formed in two sections, andmeans operable when the semaphore arm is in signaling position forcausing oscillation of one of said sections with respect to the otherthereof.

6. In a semaphore signal, a pivoted semaphore arm swingable about thepivot thereof from signaling to non-signaling position, said arm beingformed in two pivotally connected sections, means for maintaining thesections normally in alignment with one an-- with respect to the otherthereof.

7. In a semaphore signal, a pivoted sema- I phore arm swingable aboutthe pivot thereof from signaling to non-signaling position, said armbeing formed in two pivotally con-nected sections, means for maintainingthe sections normally in alignment with .one another,

means for shifting the arm from signaling to non-signaling position, anoperating member shiftable longitudinally of the arm when the arm'is insignaling position, and a link connection between said member and the upper section of the arm engaging the arm at a point spaced transverselyof the section from the pivot thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. I

FRANK A. n. eoonnoan.

